Week in Review: Week 188
Since I have always shared with you when I feel down or anxious, I thought it only fair to also tell you when I was feeling pretty good. And by good I mean neutral. Which for me, is good. There’s no big in your face rah-rah, life is so amazing, it’s just sort of an overall sense of this is OK right now.
Monday
Quiet day. Work, camera club, home.
When I got to work in the morning, this lil fella climbed out of my steering wheel column. Sorry he’s so out of focus, I was trying to do it fast before he moved away.
Tuesday
Another quiet day. This is sort of the theme right now. We’re between events at work, I haven’t been going out much, the weather is mild. Quiet times suit me.
It had been overcast all day but I just had a feeling about the sunset so I drove up to the little nearby beach. And was rewarded.
Wednesday
I was off for Yom Kippur. The forecast was for rain all day so I didn’t have any Out in the World plans, but I had a short To Do list and looked forward to some Reading on the Sofa time.
PLUS, remember the cognac bag I had missed on Nordstrom, making all other bags pale in comparison?? I found it LIKE NEW on Poshmark for a third of the price! I grabbed that sucker right up. Now let’s hope I like it as much in person.
Thursday
Back to work. Went to a small, local animal sanctuary for camera club.
My computer tried to kill me but I prevailed.
Friday
I left work early with a fever and sore throat. Nothing to see here.
Saturday
Fever fog sleep ouch ugh.
sunday
Fever finally gone, sore throat has turned into sharp, painful cough. My body hurts from too much time lying down over the past two days so I’m sitting up at the computer, but mostly just with my head in my hands. I wish someone would make me a cup of hot tea. So much for my productive 3-day weekend 🙁
I just crawled off the sofa to say thanks for reading this week’s very boring blog 🙁
What I read
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. This has been on my list for a long time, so the expectation was high. It really was like a journal of the year following her husband’s death, during which the daughter was also in a life-threatening situation for some time. Suffice it to say she had a LOT on her plate. I like her writing – it’s straight-forward and honest. There were some wonderful lines (that if I had the energy to go down the two steps to the bookcase for the book, I would share with you), for me, the best part, but also the hardest part was…her acknowledging that she could have done better while her husband was still alive. Been less stubborn, done more things his way, not be so strident about always being right. Those are hard admissions – and the book is a good reminder to anyone who still has their significant other/child/friend/dog/boss that NOW is the time to make some concessions for the relationship. I always remember a question from some relationship thing I read ages ago – Would You Rather Be Right…or Happy? 4.69/5
The Story of a Marriage by Andrew Sean Greer. Greer also wrote the Max Tivoli (Benjamin Buttons-esque) book I read about a month ago. He is a lovely writer. He writes the kind of sentences that make you go back and reread them just because they sound so nice. The book was an interesting premise with surprises throughout…and an ending that leaves you (or me, anyway) not really sure what the truth was. 4.49/5
See ya next week!
Laurie E.
Thank you for your update. Hope you know it’s ok to take a sick day away from us too. Feel better soon. 🙁
bettyewp
A SICK DAY??!!?? WHAT????
🙂
Diana H
Hope you are feeling better! That sunset is gorgeous!!!
bettyewp
Thanks, Diana. I am definitely on the mend. In the annoying cough cough coughing stage.
julia
I love your flower photos. I’m looking for a new camera for the blog and would love your suggestions. If you get a moment that is!
bettyewp
I guess the biggest question is: how much of a learning curve are you interested in/have the time for? If you’re up for learning a whole new thing (that you’ll be learning for the rest of your life, ha!) then get yourself a mid-level DSLR that will allow you to change lenses. I started with the Canon Rebel series, it’s reasonably-priced, and my second one was refurbished, so much less expensive and lasted a good long time. It’ll come with a meh kit lens, probably the 18-55, so you will also buy a Canon 50 1.8mm. It’s just over a hundred dollars but is miles better than the kit lens and with this lens you can finally get that beautiful bokeh (subject in focus, background blurred). If you just want to put a camera on auto and go, not have to carry around lenses and have a camera that will fit in your purse, I also use the Canon G7X that also does really good video. It’s a vlogger favorite. Email me if you want to talk more!
em
You are a talented photographer! Avocation or profession?
Seeing things that are, to me, well photographed means your show things in a different way than I might “see” them. (I know I’m a simpleton, but that’s the thing that draws me into a picture.
bettyewp
Photography mostly hobby, though I have done it as a side hustle for a couple years. Now I just agree to jobs for people I really really like. Doing it so much for other people a few years back made me start to dislike doing it for myself. I really put the camera down for like a year, other than to shoot work events (which is part of my job). I needed that break cuz now I enjoy it again.
Pauline starsmore
Love the sunset also the nasturtiums I tried to grow some this summer, but they just didn’t flower. Hope you will soon feel better.
bettyewp
I used to have that problem with nasturtiums, too. I think they’re one of those plants (like many herbs) that do best in a poor soil and I always had mine in mixed planters and would feed the other guys bi-weekly doses of fish emulsion, which kept THEM happy, but the nasturtiums, not so much.
Well, I’m feeling well enough to go back to work tomorrow, so…yay?
jodie filogomo
First, you must be a speed reader. How do you read so much, AND blog, AND work, I ask??
AND shop on Poshmark…I love to shop, don’t get me wrong, but it takes so much time, LOL.
I hope you love the purse….and I can’t wait to see it. And you should’ve told the computer story that you told us….it was funny you know?
XOOX
Jodie
bettyewp
I guess I’m a fast reader. And I’m lazy and a procrastinator. So when I SHOULD be doing other things…I’m often on the sofa reading. Plus, 1-2 books a month are Audible books that I listen to in the car. But they average about 2 weeks per book cuz I always pick long ones and I don’t drive that much on a regular basis right now.
And I don’t spend much time on Poshmark At All. I never just browse, I typically only go there (or ebay) when I’m looking for something pretty specific.
The purse is not quite as “rich” looking (color wise) as it was in the photos online and it’s definitely a little smaller than I envisioned, but I’m definitely keeping it. I love that it’s a 3-way convertible.
Oh gosh, the computer story, I can’t remember who I’ve told what anymore! The good news is, it’s been behaving since that night, so maybe best to let sleeping dogs lie.
xoxo
Iris
Looking forward to seeing pictures of your new purse. I’ve been in the market for one for quite awhile but I’m picky and can’t seem to find just the right one (in my price range – which is pretty low). Hadn’t thought of Poshmark – I’ll try that.
Love all your pictures. I love fall anyway, I should get outside and take some pictures of all my leaves – I have a gazillion. Maybe today.
Grace & Peace,Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com
Ashley
Such a bummer you got sick- especially over a weekend, argh.
And I’m with you- sometimes the quiet times are really nice; you can relax a little, slow down, get stuff done if you need to, etc.
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
bettyewp
A LONG weekend, no less! Blrrgh.